A recent survey by the Pew Internet Project shows that the share of American adults who own an e-reader has doubled in just six months to 12 percent in May 2011 from 6 percent in November 2010.

Tablet ownership also rose during the same period, but at a slower pace than before.

In May 2011, for instance, 8 percent of U.S. adults reported owning a tablet such as an iPad, Galaxy Tab, or Motorola Xoom. (An overwhelming majority were likely iPad owners, given the tepid consumer response thus far to non-iPad tablets.)

That's about the same as the 7 percent of adults who said they owned a tablet in January 2011, and only a 3-percentage-point jump in ownership since November 2010, Pew says.

Prior to November 2010, tablet ownership had been rising at a relatively faster pace.

The 12-percent estimate is a milestone for the e-reader. It's the first time that ownership of the device has reached double digits since Pew began measuring e-reader use among U.S. adults in April 2009.

While e-readers and tablets are gaining popularity, both are well below adoption levels of earlier popular consumer tech devices, including cellphones, laptop and desktop PCs, DVRs, and MP3 players.

(image: Pew ereader tablet vs other devices.jpg)

Growth in e-reader and tablet ownership (click to enlarge).Mobile phones are far and away the most popular tech device: 83 percent of U.S. adults own one. Desktops and laptops are running neck and neck with 57 and 56 percent, respectively.

The Pew Internet Project findings come from a survey conducted from April 26 to May 22 among 2277 adults ages 18 and up.

Cons

The third-generation Kindle, rebranded in fall 2011 as Kindle Keyboard, is the best model with a physical means of input; and it provides a better contrast and reading experience than the less expensive fourth-generation Kindle device. Read the full review